Sap-spout



S. A. PIERCE.

Sap-Spout.

No. 225,762. Patented Mar. 23,1880.

N.PETERS PHOTO-LITHOGRAPH UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

STILLMAN A. PIERCE, OF FAIRFAX, VERMONT.

SAP-SPOUT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 225,762, dated.Ma.rch 23, 1880.

Application filed November 6, 1878.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, S. ALBERT PIERCE, of Fairfax, in the county of Franklin and State of Vermont, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sap-spouts; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertainsto make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

Figure 1 is a perspective view, showing my improved sapspout attached to the trunk of a tree, a bucket being suspended from the hook. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the spout detached; and Fig. 3 is a longitudinal vertical section.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

The object of this invention is to provide a sap'spout, for use in collecting the sap of trees, having a central bore connected at one end by perforations with the intermediate space between the coils of a screw-thread which forms a channel for the sap to flow into the spout, between which thread and the external square end of the spout are arranged two flanges to receive the eye of a hook from which the pail is suspended, as hereinafter more fully described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the annexed drawings, forming part of this specification, the letter A represents the spout, consisting of the forward square part, A, and the screw-threaded part Gr. At the point of intersection between the square and threaded portion are two flanges, B (J, behind which may be adjusted a washer, D, of rubber, leather, or other suitable material. The spout is longitudinally perforated, as shown at a, and the screw-threaded part, between the coils of the thread, is provided with several perforations, b, communicating with the longitudinal perforation or passage. The tree is prepared for receiving my spout by boring a hole therein of greater diameter than the body of the screw-threaded end of the spout, so that when the spout is turned into the treea channel will be formed to permit the sap to follow the thread and lead to the openings 1).

By this means it will be seen that the extreme edge only of the screw-thread cuts into the wood, and permits the sap to flow between the thread and through the holes into the spout, and that it is not necessary to give any more length to the screw and the inner portion of the spout than just to hold the weight of the bucket.

The spout is screwed into the trunk of the tree, by means of a wrench, until the washer D, by pressing against the bark, will prevent the possible escape of any sap.

A suitably-constructed hook, E, is then adjusted in the groove F, between the flanges B O, the latter of which is the smaller, to permit the eye of the hook to readily pass over it and have a sharper curve, and, therefore, not as liable tobe spread apart by the action of the wind swayinga partially or quite full bucket. Besides, this arrangement of the flanges facilitates the hanging of the hooks. A'pail, bucket, or other suitable vessel is placed under the spout or suspended from the hook to receive the sap as it flows through the openings b and passage to.

My improved sap-spout may be made of galvanized iron, or any material that may be deemed suitable for the purpose. It will be observed that the front portion of the spout being square, it may be readily screwed into the tree by using an ordinary bit-stock or wrench, even if a part of the square portion is broken away.

Another advantage is that, being entirely closed, it will not permit rain or other moisture to become mixed with the sap, or foreign matter to collect in the passage and stop the flow.

It will be seen that the longitudinal or main passage is of a uniform diameter from end to end, so that the sap can flow through easily, and that the perforations b are in different sides of the spout-in other words, arranged in different planes-the object of this arrangement of perforations being to collect the sap from the tree at the sides as well as below, from the end of the bore to the forward perforation near the collar, or within a short distance thereofabout the distance of the thickness of the bark.

By this arrangement of the perforations at the sides and bottom no two perforations register with each other, the sap is quickly collected as it seeks escape from the tree, and in case one of the openings should become clogged by any means the process of collecting the sap will go on.

Having thus described my'invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s

1. A sap-spout, the periphery of its cylindrical end being provided with a large thread, between the coils of which are a series of transverse perforations eonneetin g a channel formed by the thread with the longitudinal passage, substantially as shown and described.

2. A sap-spout consisting of the body A, having the centrally-located flanges B O, the former of less diameter than the latter, the

portion of the body A in front of the flanges beingsquare its entire length. and the cylindrical portion in rear of said flanges provided with a large thread, between the coils of which are a series of transverse perforations, b, connectin g the channel formed by said thread with the longitudinal passage a, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I htwe hereto affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

STILLMAN ALBERT PIERCE.

Witnesses:

GEORGE O. BENTBY, E. S. BUTLER. 

